Arch 249- Tamu - Exam 3 Study Guide
with Actual Detailed Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
Old St. Peter's - Answer - Rome, Italy 318-322 CE (destroyed 16th Century)
Location & Orientation
- Vatican Hill
- East west orientation (faces rising sun)
- Entrance at east
- Altar at west (over grave of St. Peter)
Plan based on BASILICA (lawcourt) type
- Rectangular, long central aisle (NAVE), side aisles, APSE = focal point at the end of nave
- Nave, Aisles, Apse, Transept, Narthex, Atrium
Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine - Answer Basilica Nova
307-315 CE
Constantine ("the great") - Answer - Lived 272-337 CE; Ruled 306-337 CE
- Roman Emperor
- Patron of New Religion (Christianity)
- Edict of Milan (313 CE); religious tolerance for Christianity; Christians can worship in public
- Creates "New Rome" on site of ancient Greek city of Byzantium (330 CE)
- Becomes known as Constantinople ("city of Constantine") Modern Istanbul
Dura Europos (Syria) - Answer Dura Europos is an important site for understanding religious
culture; the earliest known
Jewish synagogues, CHRISTIAN HOUSE CHURCHES, and Mithra underground temples were all
found at this site being constructed under Roman rule of the territory
Synagogue at Dura-Europos - Answer - Jewish; 244-256 CE
- Fresco painting on walls = Biblical Narratives
- Best preserved Jewish art sit
- Depicts Bible stories
- Preserved to protect Dura Europos
,- Niche in wall for Torah
Dura Europos: Christian Meeting House - Answer - Assembly hall and baptistery with early
Christian wall paintings
- Baptistery with painted walls
- The Good Shepherd (Adam and Eve)
- Women at Jesus' Tomb (Easter)
Common Early Christian Iconography - Answer - The Good Shepherd
- Jesus Christ as young man
- Stories from scripture that "prefigure" aspects of Jesus' story
Church of Santa Sabina, Rome - Answer - Built 422-432 CE
- Basilica Plan
- Fluted Columns
- Corinthian Capitals = SPOLIA (architectural elements reused from earlier Roman structures
- Arcade, Aisle, Clerestory, Wooden Ceiling & Roof, Nave, "Triumphal Arch"
Architectural Precedent - Answer Roman "Triumphal Arch"
Ex:
Arch of Titus in Rome
- Built after 81 CE
- Celebrates military victory of Titus in 70 CE
- Titus in 70 CE
Arch of Constantine, Rome, 312-315 - Answer
Santa Costanza, c. 350 CE - Answer - Rome
- "Central-plan" Churches
- Originally mausoleum of Constantia; later converted into church (9th century)
- COMPOSITE CAPITALS = Corinthian + Ionic
- Ambulatory
- Mosaics (some modeled on/adapted from "pagan" iconography)
, Ravenna: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia - Answer - Debate over original function: Mausoleum or
Oratory (chapel)
- Cruciform (cross-shaped)
- Central domed space
- Exterior has a continuous arcade of blind arches
- Interior barrel-vaulted arms
- Central dome on pendentives
- Good Shepherd
Pendentive - Answer the concave triangular section of a vault that forms the transition
between a square or polygonal space and the circular base of a dome
Ravenna: Orthodox Baptistery - Answer - Central plan
- Domed octagon
- Octagonal plan with niches
- 8 as a symbol of regeneration (Christ rose from the dead on the 8th day)
- Decor use of blind arches on exterior
- Mosaic in dome; shows baptism of Jesus Christ, surrounded by 12 apostles
- Baptismal Font (tub in center)
Ravenna: S. Apollinare Nuovo - Answer - Basilica plan church, plain exterior, narthex, nave,
aisles, apse
- Left side: Female Saints
- Right side: Male Saints
- Ceiling Left: Miracles
- Ceiling Right: Passion
- Center: Prophets and Apostles
- Mosaic depicting miracle of loaves and fishes; Jesus as young man wears PURPlE cloak =
symbol of Roman Emperor
Narthex - Answer The vestibule or entrance porch of a church, leading to the nave.
Nave - Answer The long central part of a church, extending from the entrance to the altar, with
aisles along the sides.
Transept - Answer (in a cross-shaped church) either of the two parts forming the arms of the
cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave.
with Actual Detailed Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
Old St. Peter's - Answer - Rome, Italy 318-322 CE (destroyed 16th Century)
Location & Orientation
- Vatican Hill
- East west orientation (faces rising sun)
- Entrance at east
- Altar at west (over grave of St. Peter)
Plan based on BASILICA (lawcourt) type
- Rectangular, long central aisle (NAVE), side aisles, APSE = focal point at the end of nave
- Nave, Aisles, Apse, Transept, Narthex, Atrium
Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine - Answer Basilica Nova
307-315 CE
Constantine ("the great") - Answer - Lived 272-337 CE; Ruled 306-337 CE
- Roman Emperor
- Patron of New Religion (Christianity)
- Edict of Milan (313 CE); religious tolerance for Christianity; Christians can worship in public
- Creates "New Rome" on site of ancient Greek city of Byzantium (330 CE)
- Becomes known as Constantinople ("city of Constantine") Modern Istanbul
Dura Europos (Syria) - Answer Dura Europos is an important site for understanding religious
culture; the earliest known
Jewish synagogues, CHRISTIAN HOUSE CHURCHES, and Mithra underground temples were all
found at this site being constructed under Roman rule of the territory
Synagogue at Dura-Europos - Answer - Jewish; 244-256 CE
- Fresco painting on walls = Biblical Narratives
- Best preserved Jewish art sit
- Depicts Bible stories
- Preserved to protect Dura Europos
,- Niche in wall for Torah
Dura Europos: Christian Meeting House - Answer - Assembly hall and baptistery with early
Christian wall paintings
- Baptistery with painted walls
- The Good Shepherd (Adam and Eve)
- Women at Jesus' Tomb (Easter)
Common Early Christian Iconography - Answer - The Good Shepherd
- Jesus Christ as young man
- Stories from scripture that "prefigure" aspects of Jesus' story
Church of Santa Sabina, Rome - Answer - Built 422-432 CE
- Basilica Plan
- Fluted Columns
- Corinthian Capitals = SPOLIA (architectural elements reused from earlier Roman structures
- Arcade, Aisle, Clerestory, Wooden Ceiling & Roof, Nave, "Triumphal Arch"
Architectural Precedent - Answer Roman "Triumphal Arch"
Ex:
Arch of Titus in Rome
- Built after 81 CE
- Celebrates military victory of Titus in 70 CE
- Titus in 70 CE
Arch of Constantine, Rome, 312-315 - Answer
Santa Costanza, c. 350 CE - Answer - Rome
- "Central-plan" Churches
- Originally mausoleum of Constantia; later converted into church (9th century)
- COMPOSITE CAPITALS = Corinthian + Ionic
- Ambulatory
- Mosaics (some modeled on/adapted from "pagan" iconography)
, Ravenna: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia - Answer - Debate over original function: Mausoleum or
Oratory (chapel)
- Cruciform (cross-shaped)
- Central domed space
- Exterior has a continuous arcade of blind arches
- Interior barrel-vaulted arms
- Central dome on pendentives
- Good Shepherd
Pendentive - Answer the concave triangular section of a vault that forms the transition
between a square or polygonal space and the circular base of a dome
Ravenna: Orthodox Baptistery - Answer - Central plan
- Domed octagon
- Octagonal plan with niches
- 8 as a symbol of regeneration (Christ rose from the dead on the 8th day)
- Decor use of blind arches on exterior
- Mosaic in dome; shows baptism of Jesus Christ, surrounded by 12 apostles
- Baptismal Font (tub in center)
Ravenna: S. Apollinare Nuovo - Answer - Basilica plan church, plain exterior, narthex, nave,
aisles, apse
- Left side: Female Saints
- Right side: Male Saints
- Ceiling Left: Miracles
- Ceiling Right: Passion
- Center: Prophets and Apostles
- Mosaic depicting miracle of loaves and fishes; Jesus as young man wears PURPlE cloak =
symbol of Roman Emperor
Narthex - Answer The vestibule or entrance porch of a church, leading to the nave.
Nave - Answer The long central part of a church, extending from the entrance to the altar, with
aisles along the sides.
Transept - Answer (in a cross-shaped church) either of the two parts forming the arms of the
cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave.
